Colorimetric device, image forming device, image forming system, and image forming management device

Abstract

A colorimetric device includes: a feeding unit configured to feed a transfer medium; a colorimeter configured to perform colorimetry of an image that is formed on the transfer medium and that has a color boundary in a feeding direction; and a colorimetry control unit configured to control the feeding unit and the colorimeter, wherein the colorimetry control unit acquires color information related to the color boundary of the image and determines the color boundary of the image based on the color information and a result of the colorimetry performed by the colorimeter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A colorimetric device, comprising:
 a feeder configured to feed a transfer medium; 
 a colorimeter configured to perform colorimetry of an image that is formed on the transfer medium and that has a color boundary in a feeding direction; and 
 a hardware processor configured to control the feeder and the colorimeter, 
 wherein the hardware processor is further configured to: 
 acquire color information related to the color boundary of the image, and 
 determine the color boundary of the image based on the color information and a result of the colorimetry performed by the colorimeter; 
 wherein the color information acquired by the hardware processor is at least one of a color of images on front and rear sides of the color boundary, a specific wavelength to be detected in the front and rear images, the number of wavelengths to be detected, and a threshold for a boundary determination; and 
 wherein the hardware processor can adjust a feeding speed, in which the feeding unit makes the transfer medium pass through the colorimeter, according to the number of wavelengths to be detected. 
 
     
     
       2. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor stores spectral reflection data of each color, the specific wavelength being calculated according to the color of the front and rear images or boundary determination condition data corresponding to the color of the front and rear images being stored. 
     
     
       3. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor transmits at least a result of colorimetry measured after the determination of the color boundary to an image forming control unit configured to control image forming on the transfer medium. 
     
     
       4. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor operates the colorimeter in a boundary determination mode before the determination of the color boundary and in a colorimetric mode after the determination of the color boundary. 
     
     
       5. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the color information related to the color boundary of the image includes a reflectivity threshold for the selected wavelength. 
     
     
       6. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the color information related to the color boundary of the image includes spectral reflectivity data related to the color boundary. 
     
     
       7. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the color information includes a reflectivity of the specific wavelength and a set threshold of reflectivity. 
     
     
       8. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the specific wavelength is a wavelength with a largest difference in reflectivity between the colors on each side of the boundary. 
     
     
       9. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of wavelengths used to determining the color boundary is less than the number of wavelengths measured by the colorimeter. 
     
     
       10. The colorimetric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the colorimeter has an optical element configured to disperse visible light along uniform increments from an image that is formed on the transfer medium, and wherein the optical device is a diffraction grating. 
     
     
       11. An image forming device comprising:
 a feeder configured to feed a transfer medium in a feeding direction, the transfer medium having an image formed thereon, wherein the image has a color boundary in the feeding direction; 
 an image forming unit configured to form an image having a color boundary in the feeding direction of the transfer medium; and 
 a hardware processor configured to control the feeder and the image forming unit, 
 wherein the hardware processor is further configured to: 
 acquire a result of a colorimeter having an optical element configured to disperse visible light along uniform increments from the image that is formed on the transfer medium, wherein color information acquired by the colorimeter includes color information of an image on a front side of the color boundary and color information of an image on a rear side of the color boundary, 
 select a wavelength corresponding to the color information acquired by the hardware processor from among a plurality of wavelengths; and 
 determine the color boundary of the image based on a result of the colorimetry performed by the colorimeter using reflectivity of light of the selected wavelength, 
 wherein the color information acquired by the colorimeter is at least one of a color of images on front and rear sides of the color boundary, the selected wavelength to be detected in the front and rear images, a number of wavelengths to be detected, and a threshold for a boundary determination; and 
 wherein the hardware processor can adjust a feeding speed, in which the feeder makes the transfer medium pass through the colorimeter, according to the number of wavelengths to be detected. 
 
     
     
       12. The image forming device according to  claim 11 , wherein the hardware processor adjusts image forming based on a result of colorimetry performed after the determination of the color boundary. 
     
     
       13. The image forming device according to  claim 11 , wherein the number of wavelengths used to determining the color boundary is less than the number of wavelengths measured by the colorimeter. 
     
     
       14. A colorimetric device comprising:
 a feeder configured to feed a transfer medium in a feeding direction, the transfer medium having an image formed thereon, wherein the image has a color boundary in the feeding direction; 
 a colorimeter having an optical element configured to disperse visible light along uniform increments from an image that is formed on the transfer medium and that has a color boundary in the feeding direction, wherein the colorimeter is configured to detect reflectivity of light of a plurality of wavelengths; and 
 a hardware processor configured to control the feeder and the colorimeter, 
 wherein the hardware processor is further configured to: 
 determine a wavelength based on spectral reflectivity of a color on one side of the color boundary and another color on an opposite side of the boundary; 
 select a wavelength corresponding to color information from among the plurality of wavelengths, the color information including color information of an image on a front side of the color boundary and color information of an image on a rear side of the color boundary, and 
 identify the color boundary based on a result of colorimetry performed by the colorimeter using reflectivity of light of the selected wavelength, 
 wherein the color information is at least one of the color of images on front and rear sides of the color boundary, a selected wavelength to be detected in the front and rear images, a number of wavelengths to be detected, and a threshold for a boundary determination; and 
 wherein the hardware processor can adjust a feeding speed, in which the feeder makes the transfer medium pass through the colorimeter, according to the number of wavelengths to be detected. 
 
     
     
       15. The colorimetric device according to  claim 14 , wherein the number of wavelengths used to determining the color boundary is less than the number of wavelengths measured by the colorimeter.